One writes 268 numbers around a circle, such that the sum of 20 consectutive numbers is always equal to 75. The number 3, 4 and 9 are written in positions 17, 83 and 144 respectively. Find the number in position 210.
Problem
Source: Pan African 2004
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tµtµ
04.10.2005 17:24
$x_i = x_{i+20}$ and $x_i = x_{(i+k*20)\ mod\ 268 + 1}$ now it's a matter of some boring work, for $k = 7$, $x_{210} = x_{83} = 4$
JoelBinu
02.06.2017 21:08
tµtµ wrote: now it's a matter of some boring work, for $k = 7$, $x_{210} = x_{83} = 4$ How ? what is the value of i
RockmanEX3
27.03.2020 18:47
Let $n_1, n_2, n_3, \cdots n_{267}, n_0$ be the 268 numbers. First, we will prove that a number twenty positions after said number would be the same number.
Lemma: $n_{i \pmod{268}} = n_{i+20 \pmod{268}}$ for integers $1 \le i \le 268$
We know that $\sum_{k=1}^{20} n_{a_k} = 75$, where $a_k = i+k-1 \pmod{268}$. By subtracting $n_{a_1}$ and adding $n_{a_{21}}$ from both sides, we must have $75 - n_{a_1} + n_{a_{21}} = 75$. Therefore, $n_{a_1} = n_{a_{21}}$, so $n_{i \pmod{268}} = n_{i+20 \pmod{268}}$. $\blacktriangleright$
Thus, we know that $n_{i \pmod{268}} = n_{i+20m \pmod{268}}$, where $m$ is an integer. If $m = 14m_1$, then $i + 20m \equiv i + 280m_1 \equiv i + 12m_i \pmod{268}$. If $m_1 = 22m_2$, then $i + 12m_1 \equiv i + 264m_2 \equiv i - 4m_2 \pmod{268}$. Note that $4$ is a factor of $268$, so we can know that if $a \equiv b \pmod{4}$, then $n_a = n_b$.
With this in mind,
$$\sum_{k=1}^{20} n_k = 75$$$$5(n_1 + n_2 + n_3 + n_4) = 75$$$$5(3 + n_2 + 4 + 9) = 75$$$$5(16 + n_2) = 75$$$$16 + n_2 = 15$$$$n_2 = -1.$$Thus, since $n_2 = n_{210}$, we must have $n_{210} = \boxed{-1}$.